Come on Ratts....

[TBNB]

I've been screaming blue murder since the pre-season that Dennis Armfield should be in the team ahead of Russell. Against Essendon Andrew Lovett's pace killed us because no one could keep up with him and he out-ran us easily. Players like Russell aren't good enough to shut down players like that, so i ask, why is he in the side? He is most likely going to be delisted come seasons end. Dennis has trained his heart out in training and has shown great potential. He has great skills, great mentality, has the right body as he was a concreter for most of his life and is bloody quick. A player like that could have potentially taken Lovett out of the match and we could easily have won that match.

I understand that Ratts may be giving Russell one more chance to prove that he can be good enough for the side. I understand that, but he has to think of the side and going for wins. Armfield is a potentially explosive player who will be a very important player in the side if he is given the chance. If he's given the chance then he won't disappoint us, he loves his footy and he loves the club as a whole. I don't want him to think that even if he does try his heart out in training that he won't get picked, that could wreck his future.

Come on Ratts, make the tough call and cut Russell. Armfield deserves his chance and i think it's about time he got it.

 

[Beloved]

I don't think we should give up on Russel, but I sure as hell think we should play Armfield over him this weekend. We have a little space to make some errors against Melbourne (providing that they continue their poor form), so if Armfield needs to make mistakes to learn, i'm happy with that!

 

[HBF]

Russell did make a mistake or 2 on Sunday, however, he did do a reasonable job. Got a bit of the ball, and used it well for the majority of the time. Leave him in the team for a little longer, as there really isn't much point in dropping him and then bringing him back into the team in a month, or something like that.

He needs the confidence that despite any "clangers" he makes out on the field, he will stay in the team. Has to be his last chance this year to make an impact.

 

[Tigerblue]

Im a harsh critic of Russell but i will say this, he didnt do to bad on sunday. Keep him in. Will do good for his confidence. But either way i wont be disappointed

 

[iRemember87]

You might have to wait a bit mate, i'm sure Browne will be the next player to debut based on current performance!!

 

[walshy93]

Russell did make a mistake or 2 on Sunday, however, he did do a reasonable job. Got a bit of the ball, and used it well for the majority of the time. Leave him in the team for a little longer, as there really isn't much point in dropping him and then bringing him back into the team in a month, or something like that.

He needs the confidence that despite any "clangers" he makes out on the field, he will stay in the team. Has to be his last chance this year to make an impact.

One play that Russell did that I noticed that was very good was when he sprinted in front of a Filth player and snatched it and sent it inside 50.

He has potential, of course, but I think he is in a form slump.

This week is the week I would probably give him, (Armfield) a go.

 

[Blueboys7]

If Armfield replaces russel this week he will have to play more of a forward role. Browne is a run off HBF type player which is the sort of player we could use.

On the other hand Armfield is a bit older and could use a confidence boost as early as possible. Browne has longer to show us his talents.

Russell does deserve the chance this year i think his performances have been better i think he could do ok aslong as he keeps improving (previously i have been very critical of him)

 

[TBNB]

TBH i'll be over the moon if Russell turns into a great player, it's not like i hate him or anything like that.

I just want Armi to have a chance to show us what he can do.

 

[Blu3_Boy]

We should go unchanged this week barring Houlihan who might come in if ready!

 

[Blue Dawn]

You might have to wait a bit mate, i'm sure Browne will be the next player to debut based on current performance!!

No doubt about that. I've got the feeling Ratts might have told Russell that he's got a month or so to prove himself, or something along those lines - it's the only explanation for him not making way after his terrible game against Essendon. Least he did a couple of nice things against the Pies.

 

[true_blue_69]

Hell yeah...... give Armi a go!!!!!!

while we are at it we can create an official Armi's Army (so to speak)

love Armfield more & more every day!

 

[Blueboys7]

Yea but if russell gets dropped his confidence is just going to get worse and he wont go anywhere. He just needs to play footy and if he is playing poorly he will get dropped and probably be the end of him. Then army and browne will get there shot.

 

[Bomba Sheldon]

I want Armfield or Browne to be given a run, l keep saying that we need some genuine defenders in our backline rather than trying to play Houla & Russell. Keep Scotty down there but give Armfield and Browne a run whilst Anderson is injured.

 

[thylacine60]

One play that Russell did that I noticed that was very good was when he sprinted in front of a Filth player and snatched it and sent it inside 50.

He has potential, of course, but I think he is in a form slump.

This week is the week I would probably give him, (Armfield) a go.

 

[thylacine60]

Hell yeah...... give Armi a go!!!!!!

while we are at it we can create an official Armi's Army (so to speak)

love Armfield more & more every day!

Think you and the daughter have a dangerously intense interest in No 27.

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

Besides Davey and Woenamaeri (sp?) - I don't know who else the Demons have with speed.

 

[stokesy]

Leave the team unchanged please.

 

[Kouta 7]

One play that Russell did that I noticed that was very good was when he sprinted in front of a Filth player and snatched it and sent it inside 50.

He has potential, of course, but I think he is in a form slump.

This week is the week I would probably give him, (Armfield) a go.

that implies that he was prevously in form??!!!!

 

[Jezza U Beauty]

I've been screaming blue murder since the pre-season that Dennis Armfield should be in the team ahead of Russell. Against Essendon Andrew Lovett's pace killed us because no one could keep up with him and he out-ran us easily. Players like Russell aren't good enough to shut down players like that, so i ask, why is he in the side? He is most likely going to be delisted come seasons end. Dennis has trained his heart out in training and has shown great potential. He has great skills, great mentality, has the right body as he was a concreter for most of his life and is bloody quick. A player like that could have potentially taken Lovett out of the match and we could easily have won that match.

I understand that Ratts may be giving Russell one more chance to prove that he can be good enough for the side. I understand that, but he has to think of the side and going for wins. Armfield is a potentially explosive player who will be a very important player in the side if he is given the chance. If he's given the chance then he won't disappoint us, he loves his footy and he loves the club as a whole. I don't want him to think that even if he does try his heart out in training that he won't get picked, that could wreck his future.

Come on Ratts, make the tough call and cut Russell. Armfield deserves his chance and i think it's about time he got it.

Armfield doesn't deserve anything yet mate. He's been in the twos for 4 weeks FFS. What do you think of someone like Sam Jacobs who's been at the club for a year already and hasn't played a game yet ?

Russell and Armfield are not the same sort of player, so they're not really interchangeable. If Russell was dropped he'd be replaced by someone other than Armfield. Plus old Rusty's steadily improving, and he's definitely a better player than Armfield is at this point in time.

Now that we're a chance to win most of the games we play we need to be picking our strongest 22 every week - no more of the "give this bloke a run and see what he's got" of the last 2 or 3 seasons when we've known we're no hope of winning most weeks and needed to see what the blokes on our list could do.

 

[The Grover]

We should go unchanged this week barring Houlihan who might come in if ready!

No Houlihan for gods sake, as ratten said if players won't apply pressure etc they won't be played.

 

[thylacine60]

Armfield doesn't deserve anything yet mate. He's been in the twos for 4 weeks FFS. What do you think of someone like Sam Jacobs who's been at the club for a year already and hasn't played a game yet ? (1)

Russell and Armfield are not the same sort of player, so they're not really interchangeable. If Russell was dropped he'd be replaced by someone other than Armfield. Plus old Rusty's steadily improving, and he's definitely a better player than Armfield is at this point in time. (2)

Now that we're a chance to win most of the games we play (3) we need to be picking our strongest 22 every week - no more of the "give this bloke a run and see what he's got" of the last 2 or 3 seasons when we've known we're no hope of winning most weeks and needed to see what the blokes on our list could do.

(1) Sammy I think will have a tougher time than DA breaking into the team as our ruck stocks are really starting to come on.

(2) Not sure what evidence there is of this.

(3) Or this.

 

[TBNB]

Armfield doesn't deserve anything yet mate. He's been in the twos for 4 weeks FFS. What do you think of someone like Sam Jacobs who's been at the club for a year already and hasn't played a game yet ?

Russell and Armfield are not the same sort of player, so they're not really interchangeable. If Russell was dropped he'd be replaced by someone other than Armfield. Plus old Rusty's steadily improving, and he's definitely a better player than Armfield is at this point in time.

Now that we're a chance to win most of the games we play we need to be picking our strongest 22 every week - no more of the "give this bloke a run and see what he's got" of the last 2 or 3 seasons when we've known we're no hope of winning most weeks and needed to see what the blokes on our list could do.

No he's not mate. Go have a look at Dennis so you know what you're talking about.

 

[Blue Bawls]

Yea but if russell gets dropped his confidence is just going to get worse and he wont go anywhere. He just needs to play footy and if he is playing poorly he will get dropped and probably be the end of him. Then army and browne will get there shot.

Yeah, I think his problem is a confidence thing. That half good thing he did down the wing linking up with Judd showed all the grace and composure of a newborn foal - the handball looked pannicked and when he got the ball back, the kick was a shocker.

He looks like he might have the yips or something, but perhaps we should persevere at least this week and see how he goes under less pressure. He might get his confidence going and, who knows, might end up being one of our best for the year.

I'd sooner see us consolidate what we have going forward than throw even more variables into the mix.

 

[Jezza U Beauty]

(1) Sammy I think will have a tougher time than DA breaking into the team as our ruck stocks are really starting to come on.

(2) Not sure what evidence there is of this.

(3) Or this.

(1) Yeah i agree with you, just making the point that a bloke doesn't deserve anything just because he's had 4 weeks in the seconds since being drafted.

(2) There's probably none, but there's none to the contrary. I saw Carlton vs Port live at AAMI in the NAB cup though and DA looked like most first gamers - like he would take a bit of time to get it together. I would expect that if he and JR were in the same team, JR's contribution on the day would probably be greater.

(3) We've been a genuine chance to win every game we've played this year. The Collingwood win could just give the boys that extra 5% that makes the difference between winning and losing. When I look through our draw i don't see many games where i think "we cannot win that game".

 

[Dramoth]

I want Armfield or Browne to be given a run, l keep saying that we need some genuine defenders in our backline rather than trying to play Houla & Russell. Keep Scotty down there but give Armfield and Browne a run whilst Anderson is injured.

Russell and Hoops are both HFF players and should be starting up on the wing and streaming forward from the centre bounces as the ball comes out to the wings.

That way they can be used to pump the ball into the 50 or back into the corridor while running on into the 50 so they can create some other options.

But getting back to the OP's comment, I think that Armi will get a run towards the end of the year... unless we are magically in finals contention, then we will be playing our best team week in week out. Russell needs the game time for his confidence and self-belief.

It's amazing what happens to players who we think are crap when they start playing games knowing that the coach is backing them 100% and wont drag them from the ground the second they drop a clanger. Just look at Bower